Big Sky Conference

Binford adds NBA Hall of Famer John Stockton to MSU coaching staff

on

John Stockton has always put a priority on his family.

The NBA Hall of Fame point guard and his wife, Nada, have six children, each one very involved in sports like their father. When it comes to juggling the travel schedules of attending games when you have two boys and two girls playing college hoops, whoever is in his or her final collegiate season is who the Stockton’s prioritize.

On Monday, the Montana State women’s basketball team announced that Stockton would take the vacant assistant coaching spot left open by Kellee Barney’s abrupt resignation last week. John Stockton will serve as an assistant on a flexible schedule — it’s unlikely he will attend every game and will not relocate from Spokane to Bozeman — but the former Utah Jazz legend’s new gig will give him a chance to prioritize his oldest daughter, Lindsay, during her final college basketball season. Lindsay will be a senior point guard for the Bobcats this winter.

MSU guard Lindsey Stockton hugs her dad John after a regular season game in 2014

MSU guard Lindsey Stockton hugs her dad John after a regular season game in 2014

“My wife Nada and I, one of our systems with our kids is when one is a senior in college, they get the priority,” Stockton said. “For this year, that’s where Lindsay fits right now. We were going to try to get to as many games as we could just on our own as fans. Had it been a different year, I don’t know if this would’ve been doable. But knowing we were going to try to get to most of the games anyway…we are not turning the back on the rest. My son (Samuel) still has a huge priority being a high school player. The other boys (David and Michael) are still playing professionally. My other daughter (Laura) is still at Gonzaga. There are plenty of games to see.”

Stockton said his new gig would be just a one-year job until Lindsay graduates. He does not anticipate staying at Montana State or coaching at the college level any time soon.

“I don’t know whether I have a career in coaching,” Stockton said with a laugh. “I feel comfortable with the transition. I love this game. It’s a great game and I have a lot to share.”

Stockton brings a wealth of experience as a player and a high basketball IQ renown around the world after his Hall of Fame career in Utah. Stockton played 19 seasons for the Jazz, and retired as the NBA’s all-time leader in assists (15,806) and steals (3,265). He was an 11-time All-NBA selection, including earning first-team All-NBA honors in 1994 and 1995. He led the league in assists every season from 1988 until 1996. He made 10 NBA All-Star teams and five All-Defensive teams. He was a member of the 1992 Dream Team that won the gold medal at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. Stockton was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history and his No. 12 jersey is retired by both the Jazz and at Gonzaga, his alma mater

“He’s the best point guard in the game we believe and he has a lot to give back and knows the game at a very high level,” Montana State head coach Tricia Binford said. “I’ve seen him on the bench with the Sandpipers (a Spokane-area AAU team), I’ve seen him on the bench at Gonzaga Prep and I really respect him as a teacher with the kids when they would come in and out of games.

“I reached out because Lindsay is a senior and I knew this would be a great opportunity to get him to more of her games. The biggest thing is getting him here as often as we can around his schedule. We think we can get at least half of the season and we think that’s probably more of advantage than not having him on the bench.”

Barney’s defection was the second of the off-season for Binford’s staff. Amy Starr left to take an assistant coaching job at the University of Pacific. Barney left to take a job in private business in the Seattle area to be closer to family. Barney leaves with 27 years of Division I experience, including serving as the head coach at Gonzaga from 1994-1999 and as an assistant at Washington State (1985-1994), Arizona (2000-2005) and Oregon State (2008-10).

MSU 2014 women's basketball team

MSU 2014 women’s basketball team

“Our kids get attached and build relationships with your staff and Kellee is going to continue to be a part of this family. That won’t change,” Binford said. “But John is somebody who everyone on the team knew. There’s only a couple of new kids on our roster this season. Most of them have been around him.”

Stockton has consistently been at Montana State home games during Lindsay’s last two seasons. He hosted the MSU team at his house in Spokane and at his local restaurant during trips to Eastern Washington. John and Nada accompanied the Bobcats to the Bahamas on their international tour earlier this year. John has coached Lindsay on an AAU team that also included MSU senior forward Alexa Dawkins. Sophomores guard Hannah Caudill and wing Delany Junkermier were teammates of Laura Stockton since second grade, John said.

“They are all great girls, they are going to work hard, they are great players and again, I get to maintain that relationship with them,” John said. “Also, as a fan of the ‘Cats here for the last three years, I’ve gotten to know these girls that are part of the ‘Cats organization and that’s been fun. I don’t feel like a stranger. I feel like the girls know me.”

Since his retirement from the NBA in 2003, Stockton has coached all his kids at various levels of competition. Now he’ll coach Lindsay at likely the highest level the 5-foot-6 point guard will reach.

“I don’t think it will change anything,” Stockton said. “Lindsay and I are very straight forward with each other, always have been. She’s been yelled at by me before, corrected by me before and I think I’ve probably taken a few shots back from her. It’s nothing we can’t get through.”

Binford herself was an accomplished point guard. She was a three-time All-Big Sky selection at Boise State in the mid-1990s before being selected as the No. 31 pick in the 1998 WNBA draft. All told, she played professional basketball for six seasons.

MSU head coach Trisha Binford

MSU head coach Trisha Binford

“Growing up, I remember my dad always said no between the legs, nothing flashy. He always said, ‘John Stockton, keep it simple and you break people apart,’” Binford said. “That’s the philosophy I was brought up with. We have talked about schemes and concepts and those things match up extremely well. Point guard to point guard, it’s fantastic to have that guy on the sideline feeding off of things.”

When Barney first resigned late last week and Binford initially called Stockton, he was unsure if he would have the time. He is working on a “huge construction project” in the Spokane area with his oldest son, Houston, a former Montana Grizzlies safety. He is invested in real estate and the restaurant business. But he knew Lindsay would be his largest priority this winter as she plays her final basketball season.

“The convincing factor, frankly is Lindsay,” Stockton said. “It’s an opportunity to be around my daughter. We’ve had some great times around basketball. I’ve been an assistant coach for her teams with the exception of the last three years ever since she was a fourth grader since I retired. This is an opportunity most dads don’t get.”

Photos by Brooks Nuanez. All Rights Reserved.

About Colter Nuanez

Colter Nuanez is the co-founder and senior writer for Skyline Sports. After spending six years in the newspaper industry with stops at the Missoulian, the Ellensburg Daily Record and the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, the former Washington Newspaper Association Sportswriter of the Year and University of Montana Journalism School graduate ('09) has cultivated a deep passion for sports journalism during his 13-year career covering the Big Sky Conference. In August of 2014, Colter and brother Brooks merged their passions of writing and art to found Skyline Sports.

Recommended for you